Mike Kyle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mike Kyle |
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Mike Kyle in 2009, at the weigh-in before the Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg event
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| Born | Michael Andrew Kyle March 31, 1980 Boise, Idaho, United States |
| Other names | MAK |
| Residence | San Jose, California, United States |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) |
| Division | Super Heavyweight Heavyweight Light Heavyweight |
| Reach | 77 in (196 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | San Jose, California, United States |
| Team | American Kickboxing Academy |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 5 |
| Wins | 1 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 45 |
| Wins | 23 |
| By knockout | 17 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 19 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 6 |
| By decision | 4 |
| By disqualification | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 2 |
Michael Andrew Kyle (born March 31, 1980) is an American professional mixed martial artist and boxer. He competes in the Heavyweight division. Since 2001, Kyle has fought in many big organizations. These include the UFC, WEC, and Strikeforce. He has also been a champion, holding the WEC Heavyweight Championship and the King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Championship.
Contents
Background
Mike Kyle grew up in Boise, Idaho. He went to Nampa High School. There, he became friends with Justin Eilers, who later became a fellow fighter. Justin and another friend taught Mike some Brazilian jiu-jitsu moves when he was in high school.
Mike was also a talented football player. He played fullback for Butte College and Eastern Oregon University. For a while, he balanced playing football and fighting. He even got an invitation to train with the San Francisco 49ers football team. But in the end, he decided to focus completely on mixed martial arts.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Early Fights
Before becoming a professional, Mike Kyle had a perfect record of 3 wins and 0 losses as an amateur. He started his professional career on March 10, 2001, when he was 18 years old. He won his first fight by TKO (Technical Knockout) in just 90 seconds. He won his next two fights the same way, by punches.
Then, he joined the King of the Cage fighting group. His first fight there was for the King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Championship. He fought against the champion, Dan Bobish. Mike weighed 275 lbs, but Bobish was 55 lbs heavier! Mike almost won, but he lost for the first time in his career.
In his next King of the Cage fight, Mike moved down to the Heavyweight division. He fought Paul Buentello, who would later become a champion. Mike lost this fight by knockout. After this loss, a famous gym called the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) invited him to train. He joined them and has been training there ever since.
After joining AKA, Mike fought in the WEC. He won his fight by knockout, ending his two-fight losing streak. He then won two more fights, including another one in the WEC.
Fighting in the UFC
Mike Kyle made his debut in the UFC against Wes Sims. He won by knockout at the very end of the first round. Mike controlled the fight from the start.
Next, Mike fought his old friend, Justin Eilers. This was a special match because Justin was the one who first showed Mike mixed martial arts. Mike lost this fight by knockout in the first round.
He then fought James Irvin at UFC 51. Mike won by knockout in the first round. Even with this big win, Mike asked to leave the UFC. He wanted to fight in Japan.
After the UFC
Mike left the UFC hoping to fight in Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships. But that plan didn't work out. Instead, he fought in Japan's Pancrase organization. He beat Japanese legend Tsuyoshi Kohsaka. Mike won by a technical decision when the doctors stopped the fight in the third round.
He then fought Devin Cole at WEC 18: Unfinished Business and lost by TKO. This was his first loss in the WEC.
Strikeforce Fights
Mike then joined Strikeforce. His first fight there was against Krzysztof Soszynski. The fight ended in a technical draw because Mike accidentally poked Soszynski in the eye.
He then fought Brian Olsen for the WEC Heavyweight Championship. Mike was disqualified from this fight because he hit Olsen with illegal strikes. He was then suspended for 18 months.
After his suspension, Mike fought Wayne Cole in Strikeforce and lost by submission. He then won two fights outside of Strikeforce, one by knockout and one by decision.
Mike returned to Strikeforce to fight Rafael Cavalcante in a Light Heavyweight fight. Mike won by knockout, which was one of the biggest wins of his career. Cavalcante later became a Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.
After this big win, Mike fought Fabrício Werdum in a Heavyweight fight at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg. He lost this fight by submission.
He then won a fight in Australia by TKO.
King of the Cage Champion
Mike then signed with King of the Cage again. He fought Travis Wiuff and initially won by TKO. However, the result was changed to a "no contest" because Mike hit Wiuff after the bell.
In his next King of the Cage fight, Mike beat Jon Murphy by TKO. Then, he fought Tony Lopez for the King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Championship. After a tough five-round fight, Mike won by split decision and became the King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion.
Back to Strikeforce
Mike fought Abongo Humphrey in Strikeforce and won by submission. He also won the XMMA Light Heavyweight Championship in Australia by TKO.
Mike stepped in on short notice to fight Antônio "Bigfoot" Silva in a Heavyweight fight. Mike knocked Silva down and landed many punches, but couldn't finish the fight. Silva won by TKO in the second round. Mike later said he broke his hand during the fight.
Mike was supposed to fight Gegard Mousasi twice, but he had to pull out both times due to a broken hand or other injuries. He finally fought Mousasi at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine in 2013, but lost by submission in the first round. After this, Mike said he would retire, but he later changed his mind.
In a rematch with Rafael Cavalcante, Mike lost by submission. However, the fight was later changed to a "no contest" because Cavalcante tested positive for a banned substance.
Later Career Fights
Mike continued to fight in various organizations. He had a rematch with Travis Wiuff and won by knockout in just 21 seconds. He also fought Andrei Arlovski, a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, and lost by decision.
Mike faced Anthony Johnson twice, losing both fights by knockout. He also fought in Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB), winning one fight by TKO and losing another by submission.
Professional Boxing
Mike Kyle also tried professional boxing. He had his first boxing match in 2003 as a heavyweight and lost by decision. He returned to boxing in 2016 and got his first professional win by knockout. He had a few more boxing matches, ending his boxing career with 1 win, 3 losses, and 1 draw.
Personal Life
Mike Kyle is married and has one daughter with his current wife. He also has two sons from a previous marriage. He has some Irish family background.
Championships and Accomplishments
- King of the Cage
- KOTC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- Xtreme MMA Australia
- XMMA Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC.com Awards
- 2005: Ranked #8 Knockout of the Year (for his win against James Irvin)
- UFC.com Awards
Images for kids
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Mike Kyle in 2009, at the weigh-in before the Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg event
